SpaceX plans to launch its next mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday morning. The launch is scheduled for 12:23 a.m. and will involve a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
This mission marks the 13th time that the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage booster will be used. After stage separation, the booster is expected to land on the Off Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX has been successful in unloading and reusing boosters in previous missions, significantly reducing the cost of space travel.
An interesting aspect of this launch is that no sonic boom is expected to be heard in the local area. Sonic booms are caused by shock waves generated by an aircraft or spacecraft that travel faster than the speed of sound. SpaceX is working on reducing the effect of sonic booms during landing attempts to reduce disturbance to nearby residents.
In the event of any unexpected problems, backup launch opportunities are available between 1:14 am and 3:46 am on Monday.
For those interested in watching the launch, SpaceX will provide a live webcast of the mission, available approximately five minutes before launch. It gives viewers a chance to see the exciting moment when the Falcon 9 rocket carries the Starlink satellites into space.
Definitions:
– Falcon 9 rocket: two-stage orbital launch vehicle developed by SpaceX. It is designed to carry payloads into space with the capability of landing and reusing.
– Starlink satellites: A constellation of small satellites developed by SpaceX for global broadband Internet coverage.
Source:
– Original article (source article not available)
– SpaceX (https://www.spacex.com/)